Kobolds: Kill the Witch-Queen, finale

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Log Info

  • Title: Kobolds: Kill the Witch-Queen, part 2
  • Emitter: Cryosanthia
  • Characters: Aryia, Seyardu, Jinks, Selia, Braelnoir
  • Place: Sunken Hope, Lake Uskvutha
  • Time: Sunday, September 25, 2022, 2:21 PM
  • Summary: Inside the temple of Sunken Hope, the battle against the Witch-Queen continues. Her machinations have come to their conclusion as she sacrifices her undead kobolds to empower something ancient and malevolent. She, and her wizard assistant are behind a Globe of Invulnerability and protected by a large symbol. Webs and an Aqueous Sphere hamper the adventurers as they enter, followed by black tentacles, and while they attempt to use invisibility it seems that the kobolds are prepared for that with Glitterdust and the ability to see through it. Most of the adventurers are bogged down, except the monk who leaps through it all to stun the Witch-Queen. The strange bleeding colour that was summoned attacks Aryia but fails to do much damage. The leeches drain her more. The Witch-Queen is moved to relative safety by the Kobold wizard while she recovers, and Braelnoir rushes to attack her. The attention is turned to the kobold wizard, who may be the one they are intending to save, so attempts are made to stun him. Selia drags him from the protetive magic, allowing Jinks to Break his Enchantment, and he joins the adventures in attacking the Purple Blood. Until the Colour charms him back to its service. Brealnoir assaults the Witch-Queen, killing her, and the Colour escapes. Sunken Hope is saved, but something worse has been released.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Aryia        4'8"     110 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her.
Braelnoir    5'11"    146 Lb     Human             Female    A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver.
Jinks        3'4"     39 Lb      Gnome             Male      A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry.
Selia        2'10"    35 Lb      Halfling          Female    A sleek halfling lass, quick and nimble.
Seyardu      5'6"     150 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  NPCs of Note  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Witch-Queen                  Kobold            Female    A dark scaled Thullite Witch
Quo                              Kobold            Male      A dark scaled amoral wizard
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GMs  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Williwaw                                                     Assisting
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Outside...The bell tolls.

Inside...

The world turned sideways, the music stopped, everyone went weightless. An empty void yawned, shot through with purple streaks like vanishing stars. Then it all slammed back, everyone where they were. The teleport failed. The high-pitched, guttural hissing of a kobold can be heard.

And the invisible gnome-turned kobold can see the interior of the church. It's round, one hundred feet in diameter, filled with water. There is little light, some filtering through. Rows of pews jut out of the dark water like rotten teeth, two columns bracketing them like a second row, the maw of a remora.

At the end of each pew sits a kobold, up to the neck in water. The palor of their scales, the empty eyes are unmistakeable signs of undeath. Each has its nose pointed at the ceiling, and a glowing trickle from their ears, rope-like globules of purple snot, descending into the deptsh of the centre aisle.

To his south-west there is a raised platform, upon which stand two kobolds. Both are black-scaled, one female, one male, for those who can recognize such things. They are surrounded by a shimmering circle, in water that comes up to their thighs. The male's image shimmers, there's a multiplicity of him. Each has a twisty, Kris dagger in hand, tracing patterns in some ritual.

Was it tolling of the bell that fussed that up? Aryia was unsure, but feeling like she was going to explode with the brimming of energy from both arcane and divine boons made her ready to be jaunted in from the fast talking Jinks-bold. But then- a familiar sideways slam into something that doesn't belong. She snarls, spitting a glob of blood as she shuffles about the shin deep water. Guess we do this the old fashion way, she thinks to herself glancing at all the various obstacles ahead.

The report from Jinks prompts a nodding condirmation of, "Jobberonnadaisgotit." from Brae, momentarily losing her pacing in the celerital sorceries.

She's half twisted, peeling the heel of her almost impractically large left boot from the floor when the particular sheering segue of teleportation begins-

-and ends in a shivering half-step as the transit is curtailed, "Wha'th'fuck?"

Selia is short, she's used to things being over her head. But failed teleportations and watery witches? That's way over her head. The little lutch keeps her blade handy and waits for something to stab. THAT she understands pretty well.

The swarm spreads out, surrounding the webs.

Both Kobolds are moving faster than they should, their little hands a blur. The ritual is completed. The Witch-Queen hisses, clawing at the air in Jinks-bold's direction. A cloud of glittering, purple dust rains down on the web, outlining all its strands and him.

"Advise." <draconic>

GAME: Jinks rolls Will: (13)+11: 24 (vs DC16 - Success), "Not blind, are visible due to glitterdust now"

The other kobold whips a potion up to his lips, quaffing it then casting it aside with a practiced motion. His eyes glow balefully, combined with his mirrored images, this causes a multitude of overlapping eyes in the gloom. An eerie sight.

"Make them come to us. Target the healer."

"This one knows that much!" The Witch-Queen snarls a reply. <draconic>

<OOC> Aryia is still in monkey style. Use swift action to get DR 2/- for 1 ki
GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL.
<OOC> Aryia says, "attempts to get up the south stairs"
GAME: Aryia rolls reflex: (10)+20: 30
GAME: Aryia rolls cmb: (3)+21+6: 30 (vs DC 22 - Fail)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, so 1/2 move through the orb areas (water) and then 1/4 through the web areas (water and web)"
<OOC> Aryia says, "how far can 80 speed get me"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I think 18,14 or 19,14"
<OOC> Aryia will do 19,14 if that's free of web
<OOC> Aryia is shedding daylight due to glorious enchantment
<OOC> Aryia says, "60' radius, increases by one step"
GAME: Aryia spends ONE use of FAERIE FIRE.

Aryia rolls her shoulders after getting the run down from the invisible dandy, her taking a breath In. Out. >Crack<. Shoulders loosened, glowing moonlit hues of energy faintly pulse in lines against her skin. Then water sprays up as she hauls ass into the and up the stairs. Diving past the orb, clambering up each step with a tuck and roll, bouncing this way and that to maneuver through.

She flies out, arms flailing and throwing her moonlight hue out in all directions to dispel the sordid darkness. The pugilist lands with a splash, fists raised as she looks all about...

There! She didn't have time to parse the terrifying setup going on. But those two up there looked like they were up to no good, and they'd need to be kept an eye on. Falling back to old memories of her sister teachings, her hand reaches out, a fist clinching as her eyes shine brighter. Then there's an explosion of chaff-like moondust from up ahead, silvery green flecks of light sticking to everything, and making it near impossible for things to hide.

<OOC> Braelnoir says, "i'll move up after if i can to 18, 12 with 70' movement, cast enlarge on myself"
<OOC> Aryia says, "+1 for haste for reflex, +6 for the cmb (haste, prayer, bless, inspire courage)"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "cool, can i hit 18.12 instead? trying not to present too much of a group target yet"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls reflex+1: (13)+8+1: 22
GAME: Braelnoir rolls cmb+6: (4)+17+6: 27

The updates from Jinks give Brae a more information to roll over in her mind, and she forgoes leaning into her primary mystical aspects just yet, as the situation up top may require more tactical celerity than slaking that particular lust can spare her.

In the Mul'niessa's wake, the Korite tucks a shoulder and closes her eyes as she forces herself between the disturbingly gelatinous water and the stone around it to produce both ripples and the scraping protest of encorcelled steel. Her heavy boots CLOMP-CLOMP-CLOMP up the stairs past the gnobold, not unlike her oft-lamented hooves of old, though she keeps her thoughts on the now.

Breaking right atop the stair to Aryia's veering left to present a less tempting spell target, and potentially pose a roadblock of sorts to the pack of undead kobolds she sees, she splashes to a stop and, with several hisses and growls of archaic draconic, the silvermane suddenly swells in side, blinking momentarily even as she brings her weapon up.

That didn't feel right.

<OOC> Selia says, "Sneaky sneak towards about 18-11, have Fast Stealth, but short legs, nReflex+1 and Escape Artist+6?"
GAME: Selia rolls reflex+1: (14)+18+1: 33
GAME: Selia rolls escape artist+1: (12)+21+1: 34
GAME: Selia rolls stealth+3: (20)+33+3: 56
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "hidden. You can get to 20,9 or one of the squares around Jinks with a DC20 acrobatics check"
GAME: Selia rolls acrobatics: (9)+22: 31
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay pick a square"
<OOC> Selia says, "19-12 seems decent"

Selia sneaks. She sneaks very well. The tiny dancer doesn't sneak particularly fast, creeping her way past roiling waters and magical webs along the steps, flowing her way beside Jinks-bold. The fancy lad.

Careful not to make too many ripples in the water, the lutch eyes the situation, keeping still and quiet for the moment.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "move to 20,11 and death ward myself"

Seyardu is left disoriented by the teleportation magic, which isn't helped by the confusion of ending up exactly where she started to begin with. The silver cleric comes to her senses relatively quickly however, and pushes on into the entrance hall where the others are, just in time to catch the talking. Just in case, she takes her holy symbol and holds it aloft.

"Celestial mother, shield this one from harm, so this one may continue to aid their allies to this battle's conclusion." she prays, dropping the symbol again and readying her polearmm.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Can I get a know check to figure out what's up wth the boogery kobolds?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Yes. DC30, k/arcane or k/religion or k/the planes, all three if you like."
GAME: Jinks rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (18)+20: 38
GAME: Jinks rolls Knowledge/Religion: (1)+19: 20 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Jinks rolls Knowledge/the Planes: (4)+19: 23
<OOC> Jinks says, "Swimming to 18,16. Maintain song as freebie. Using Quickened rod to slow WQ and Squid pro Quo. Standard to cast Greater Invis on Aryia. Will include info from you in my pose, Cryo."
GAME: Jinks rolls CMB+6: (13)+11+6: 30
GAME: Jinks casts Greater Invisibility. Caster Level: 14 DC: 23
GAME: Jinks spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
GAME: Jinks casts Slow. Caster Level: 14 DC: 21
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (6)+12: 18 (vs DC21 - Fail, haste dispelled)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (2)+15: 17 (vs DC21 - Fail, haste dispelled)

The bejeweled kobold glitters from within the criss-crossing webs, hunched and fabulous. A thing of ethereal beauty juxtaposed with the grim and otherworldly horrors of this tainted amphitheater, it can't help but sparkle. Traces of rapidly-fading light stream in his wake as he hops, slithers, and dives beyond the arachnidless trap to land in the murky water with a quiet *ploop*.

Dark, reptilian eyes squint past the glow of the menacing mul'niessa monk to the two wicked figures on the dais. On the dais. Little nostrils dip below the surface and send burbling bubbles bouncing back behind as he speeds along. His hummed tune between the song's verses carries above the water and echoes from the dark domed ceiling.

One clawed hand braces against the wall as he lows a narrow tail into the water and taps Aryia lightly with the rod. Transparent threads weave a loose cloak of invisibility before closing to swallow the glowing puglist, leaving only the sourceless glamorous glow. "Hit. It'llhold," he suggests.

Then the other hand snatches our to hook a thread taut between the two distant offenders. It stretches impossible in his grasp and struggles in its rapid shuddering. A kobold claw steadies it, holding down the vibrations until the tempo meets a more reasonable pacing. The Witch Queen and her ally's movements slow.

"The congragation isundead. Coalescing. Intothepool. Makingsomethingbigger." He chirps, somehow finding the wind to blow out the information between the songs and spells.

The spell lands, the two kobolds are moving slower.

The kobolds in the pews, staring up at the ceiling with dead eyes, mold surrounding their water-soaked nets like a frilly collar, tilt their heads further back. And back. The globs leaking from their ears increase in size, the mother of all loogies slipping out and trailing away.

Their heads fall off.

The splashes echo in the round chamber. Something stirs in the deep well. A strange and beautiful colour on the edge of visible, a colour out of violet, a colour out of the depths.

A colour that hovers over the spreading ripples and pulses with intelligent malevolence.

A wave of buzzing is Braelnoir's only warning as a swarm of wasps passes over her. The viscious little insects head directly for the gadfly gnome-bold with all the spells, surrounding him, and catching Aryia in their midst.

The Witch-Queen does nothing. She simply stares at the Mul'niessa, glowering, such an intense look the mul'niessa doubts her invisibility despite the gnome's assurances.

Some symbol surrounds the Witch-Queen, glowing with a pale light through the water, under-lighting her body in sinister ways, her tail and neck darkly shimmering from it.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (9): 9 (DR2/-, Aryia)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (4): 4
GAME: You damaged Aryia for 7 points. 100 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Jinks for 4 points. 37 HP remaining.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "DC13 Fort vs poison saves please."
GAME: Jinks rolls Fort+1: (18)+8+1: 27 (vs DC13)
GAME: Jinks rolls Fort+1: (16)+8+1: 25 (vs DC13)
GAME: Aryia rolls fortitude+1: (10)+18+1: 29 (vs DC13)
GAME: Aryia rolls fortitude+1: (9)+18+1: 28 (vs DC13)

The other kobold, the multi-layered, multi-hued, multifaceted one slaps his tail intently. The Aqueous orb rolls out of foyer into the web, over the silver-scale.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "That's Quo's move action to redirect it, Reflex save Seyardu to not be swept along"
<OOC> Aryia notes Sey you have +2 to reflex from haste and prayer
GAME: Seyardu rolls reflex +2 +3: (8)+4+2+3: 17 (vs DC19 - Fail)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (7): 7
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for 7 points of nonlethal. 7 total.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Quo casts slow with a rod of quick, then slow again, so Aryia, Jinks, Braelnoir, Selia, make 2 saves "
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Aryia, per my page, roll twcie on each save, take the worse"
<OOC> Aryia notes +1 to save from prayer!
GAME: Aryia rolls will+1: (6)+17+1: 24 (vs Will DC19 - success)
GAME: Aryia rolls will+1: (2)+17+1: 20 (vs Will DC19 - success)
GAME: Aryia rolls will+1: (16)+17+1: 34 (vs Will DC19 - success)
GAME: Aryia rolls will+1: (6)+17+1: 24 (vs Will DC19 - success)
<OOC> Aryia says, "20 and 24"
GAME: Selia rolls will+1: (11)+7+1: 19 (vs Will DC19 - success)
GAME: Selia rolls will+1: (9)+7+1: 17 (vs Will DC19 - Fail, haste cancelled)
GAME: Jinks rolls Will+1: (11)+11+1: 23 (vs Will DC19 - success)
GAME: Jinks rolls Will+1: (2)+11+1: 14 (vs Will DC19 - success)
<OOC> Jinks says, "I'll RPP my failure, Cryo"
GAME: Jinks rolls Will+1: (7)+11+1: 19
GAME: Braelnoir rolls will+1: (20)+7+1: 28 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) (vs Will DC19 - success)
GAME: Braelnoir rolls will+1: (18)+7+1: 26 (vs Will DC19 - success)

The multi-faceted, multi-hued, multiplicity kobold draws a rod and encants in the gnome-bold's direction. A magical crackle shoots out, hitting him, followed by a second. It arcs across the group.

Only Selia seems affected, her magical haste dropping.

"They're very tough. The mul'niessa has fought the troops before. The others are unknown." <draconic>

<OOC> Aryia says, "those dotted vertical lines, what are those?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "decoration mostly, a drop down but not much"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "originally I had plans for different water depths, but it's too many moving parts already, so the bars are decoration"
<OOC> Aryia spending 1 ki to get spell resist 25 for one minute
GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL.
<OOC> Aryia counts squares one more time
<OOC> Aryia says, "move to 12,18"

Once more of the party gets up into their playing field, Aryia is suddenly assaulted by spells of grievance and viscosity, her gritting her teeth and shielding her head with crossed arms. It nearly works in shedding off the dandy-bold's alacrity, but she just barely manages to deflect it out of the way. Wasps swarm over her, trying to sting and distract, but her attention isn't wavering from the duo on the dais. A glowing hand points over towards the shimmering waters, "Caution," she snaps out before taking a deep breath In. <Merctalk/Tongues>

Inner pools balance. The moonlit lines on her skin brighten to a shining hue instead of a dull glow. Balance. No hindrance. No help.

Out. Despite the waist deep waters, the pugilist dives forward, half swimming, half sprinting as water sprays up from her thick-skulled advance. The source of light moves despite her being unseen visibly from Jink's assistance. But the Witch Queen can see Aryia full force ignoring whatever wards have been erected, her coming to a stop and half crouching to get ready to leap up there on the dais. Ready to crack some skulls.

Her signs are unseen, no one sees her gestures.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Are those boxes from other spells, Cryo? Can I attempt a Spellcraft to identify?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "k/arc DC is 20 or 25 or something"
GAME: Jinks rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (5)+20: 25
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "The green is the Globe of Invulnerability that I forgot about which would have blocked your Slow spell,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, " it was cast Round 2 when you were outside. The other is a symbol of some kind."
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "sorry, m, can i make out what's going on in the center there?"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls knowledge/arcana: (17)+10: 27 (vs DC27)
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "ok, will advise and move toward the game, power attack+furious focus+improved vital strike"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+4: (10)+21+4: 35
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+11+4d4+12: (2)+11+(8)+12: 33

The situation is certainly changing, mojo and hoodoo flying thither yon and back and forth, and the Korite's eyes flit about the area as she tries to call the right play.

Wait, is that what she...?

She can't let that run unchecked as much as she knows she needs Jinks unpressed, and those casters to get squeezed. Stil forgoing her enhanced fury for the sake of her reasoning, "Smeg o'the forsworn!" she swears, "Slashing this thing, it's tough!"

With her boots deeply splooshing toward the anomaly, Brae readies her scythe, her muscles bunching, "HrrrrraaaAAAAAAAGH!"

The ominous blade hews into the amorphous disparity, "Acid, lightnin'n cold are no good! Cain't stab'r club it, neither!"

As she readies herself for the counteroffensive to come, she calls "Someone back Jinks!"

<OOC> Selia says, "activate boots of speed, double move towards 16-16, Maintain fast stealth"
<OOC> Selia says, "Right, so activating boots as backup haste. Slow canceled Haste cast by someone else"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "so your move is 40' doubled 80'?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you can get to 16,16"
GAME: Selia rolls stealth: (17)+33: 50

Selia tsks as the magic lethargy washes over her, not slowing so much as robbing speed as the spells cancel out. Wiggeling her toes, Selia activates the enchantment of her boots, a thin field of dilated time forming around the halfling. Different magic, but same effect.

Slipping beneath the surface, the lutch flows foreward with narry a ripple, submerging making for more water to move through, but more to swim with as well, and a great deal less splashing. A pillar blocks the Witch from her sight, but her from the Witch as well. And Selia doesn't have big glowy runes to mark her position.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "it's flying over the water, it moves to N of Aryia and strikes"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+4-4: (15)+21+4+-4: 36 (AOO)
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+11+12+3: (5)+11+12+3: 31
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (2)+19: 21 (vs AC36 - miss)

Damnit, izzit-?

"Heads UP!" Brae snaps, her grim harvester flashing across the blob as it decides it doens't want any more of her business. Droplets are sprayed across the profaned church. The colour, ripples, and moves.

It doesn't so much fly, as -bleed-. Like a wound in the air, it tears over to Aryia, blood flowing as if some great invisible knife was slashing the fabric of the universe. The cut seals behind it, the edge closing.

It seems to be attempting some sort of attack on the mul'niessa, which fails.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "move to 18,12, and channel some healiing"
GAME: Seyardu rolls reflex +2 +3: (13)+4+2+3: 22
GAME: Seyardu rolls cmb +2: (16)+11+2: 29
GAME: Seyardu rolls 7d6: (28): 28
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for -28 points. 141 HP remaining.
      7 nonlethal damage healed. 0 nonlethal total.
GAME: You damaged Aryia for -28 points. 128 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Jinks for -28 points. 65 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Braelnoir for -28 points. 144 AND 1 TEMP HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Selia for -28 points. 54 HP remaining.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Aryia.........|  128     | 165  |
 | Braelnoir.....|  144 +1  | 144  |
 | Jinks.........|   65     |  88  |
 | Selia.........|   54     |  54  |
 | Seyardu.......|  141     | 144  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seyardu sputters as she's swept around by the ball of water, pulling herself out of the webs and water with no small amount of difficulty. Once she's free, she holds out the holy symbol again, this time releasing a burst of healing energy that mends the wounds of her allies to some degree.

GAME: Jinks rolls Knowledge/Dungeoneering: (10)+20: 30
<OOC> Jinks says, "Do I take the swarm damage at the top of my turn or the end if I don't move? I cannot recall."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you take it when the swarm goes, which is WQ's turn. However being in it, it still has the distraction"
<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright. So a concentrattion check to cast from in it?"
GAME: Jinks casts Mirror Image. Caster Level: 14 DC: 21
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+14: (17)+14: 31 (concentration - success)
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d4+4: (4)+4: 8
<OOC> Jinks says, "9 Jinkses off the quickened rod. Drop the quickened rod as a free."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Continue singing as a free. Move to 14,13 and drawing bow as part of move."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Casting Dispel Magic, Greater as my standard. I'll hit the globe, the sigil, the ooze, the WQ, and Quo."
GAME: Jinks casts Greater Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 14 DC: 23
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+14: (10)+14: 24
<OOC> Jinks says, "So if it's CL13 or lower, WQ, Quo, and the ooze loose one ongoing spell."
<OOC> Jinks says, "Then the orb and the sigil go away if CL13 or lower."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "All Caster Levels are higher than 13 on active spells.'
GAME: Jinks spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.

The rapidfire verse of the gnomish song skips a beat as the abomination from beyond the graves of gods joins the fray. The glittering shoulders heave as he circular breathes through the refrain and issues a sigh at the same time, dipping below and diving above the water to avoid the worst of the swarms attacks.

The rod is raised again, the percussive clattering of the flute-like fingers lost beneath the chaos of the terrible battle as one after another after another after another after another after another after another after another of the glittering half-visible kobolds pull away from the origin.

Oh! And there's one more, too!

There's a VERY EXPENSIVE *sploonk* as the spent rod is dropped into the murky waves and the Shenanigan of shapeshifted Jinks (yes, that's the collective noun) surges across the water, swarms over Selia, and splashes down behind the column. Settling beyond the group readies ranks, the front five kneeling while three in the back stand and nock arrows.

The last image hits a glottal stop in his song like a brick wall, sucking in a deep lungful of the air as the words turn on their heads and dive back into his fanged gullet in reverse. Motes of power begin to pull away from the dais and towards the gnombold. Threads of the Weave begin to fray at flap in the conjured wind-- but then the air stills and the power settles, pulling back to its point of origin.

"... Mulria's sideways fucking smile," ends this most recent verse of the song.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Aryia discovers there are things in the water around the podium pedestal."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (11): 11
<OOC> Aryia nods and has dr 2/-
GAME: You damaged Aryia for 9 points. 119 HP remaining.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Fort Save DC15 Aryia please"
GAME: Aryia rolls fortitude+1: (14)+18+1: 33
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Wasp Swarm moves to Seyardu"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (6): 6
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for 6 points. 135 HP remaining.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Aryia you'll need to make another save next round, Seyardu, for the next 3 rounds. Sey, DC13Fort"
GAME: Seyardu rolls fortitude+1+3: (17)+14+1+3: 35

There are little flickers of light in the water surrounding the altar area. They cluster about the Mul'niessa's legs, attaching, each making a happy pulse when they do so. She bleeds.

The swarm of wasps buzzes angrily, briefly following in the gnome-bold's direction, then altering to surround Seyardu. The annoying insects sting, and while her scales are thick, they find some thin spots.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay. WQ uses lesser quickened rod to cast lightning bolt, then casts lightning bolt,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Quo's move action to move the swarm"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "2 Reflex saves Seyardu, DC 17 please"
GAME: Seyardu rolls reflex +2 +3: (4)+4+2+3: 13 (vs DC17 - fail)
GAME: Seyardu rolls reflex +2 +3: (7)+4+2+3: 16 (vs DC1 - fail)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 10d6: (32): 32
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 10d6: (36): 36
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for 68 points. 67 HP remaining.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Aryia.........|  119     | 165  |
 | Braelnoir.....|  144 +1  | 144  |
 | Jinks.........|   65     |  88  |
 | Selia.........|   54     |  54  |
 | Seyardu.......|   67     | 144  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Yesss." The Witch-Queen hisses happily, an odd response to the healing waves that wash over her enemies. A wand, elegant and expensive, but not as much as the Jinks's', twirls in her hands as she gathers arcane energy.

Zzz-ZZZAP! A bolt of electricity arcs, slamming into the silverscale. It's followed by a second.

Zzz-zzzp!.

"The healer showss hersself." <draconic>

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Quo is going to 5' step back, cast the Black Tentacles centred on 15,15 with a 20' radius spread,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "which catches The colour, everyone, and I'm not sure about the swarms."
<OOC> Aryia says, "swarms can't be grapple"
<OOC> Aryia snicker. "Note everyone that your CMD is +1 due to haste if oyu have it"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "BT CMB is +21, one roll against all"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+21: (14)+21: 35
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "which looks like everyone except Aryia, including the Colour"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6
GAME: You damaged Braelnoir for 10 points. 135 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Jinks for 6 points. 59 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Selia for 8 points. 46 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for 6 points. 61 HP remaining.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "colour"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (5)+4: 9
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "seems unaffected, but still grappeled"

The black kobold hisses, scuttling away from Aryia, a careful scuttle. He leers, a rather lecherous expression, both amused and cruel and makes arcane gestures which almost translate into words. Perhaps long ago in mysandrall, they were analogs for 'tickle' and 'fondle'. In his spell, they summon thick, black, ropey tentacles that rise up out of the water and coil around legs and other limbs, constricting.

Oddly, even the strange blood is restrained. Only the mul'niessa is able to slip between their foul grasp.

<OOC> Aryia says, "flying kick to the queen"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "moment."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Strength for 2 points. 2 total damage.
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Constitution for 1 points. 1 total damage.
GAME: Aryia rolls fortitude+1: (2)+18+1: 21 (vs DC15 - Success)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "does the colour get an AOO since you're starting in threatened and moving through it's threatened?"
<OOC> Aryia says, "color is grappled"
<OOC> Aryia flying kick up onto dais, 11,18
<OOC> Aryia says, "second strike is spin kick, versus flat foot, will be set to stagger"
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (14)+21+2+6: 43
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (14)+21+2+6: 43
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (20)+21+2+6: 49 (THREAT)
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (10)+21+2+6: 39 (Confirmed)
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (7)+21+2+6: 36
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6-5: aliased to weapon0+2+6-5: (3)+21+2+6+-5: 27
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6-10: aliased to weapon0+2+6-10: (13)+21+2+6+-10: 32
GAME: Aryia spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10 (Fort vs DC22 - Fail)
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d6+1: (2)+1: 3
<OOC> Aryia says, "staggered for 3 rounds"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27 (vs DC14 - not blind)
<OOC> Aryia says, "spending a ki for one more hit"
GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL.
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (7)+21+2+6: 36
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+3+1: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+3+1: (15)+2+2+3+1: 23
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+3+1: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+3+1: (8)+2+2+3+1: 16
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+3+1+crunch+3+1: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+3+1+2d10+strength+2+3+1: (17)+2+2+3+1+(13)+2+2+3+1: 46
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+3+1: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+3+1: (15)+2+2+3+1: 23
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+3+1: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+3+1: (16)+2+2+3+1: 24
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+3+1: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+3+1: (3)+2+2+3+1: 11
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you can flying kick and do your full attck while in difficult terrain?"
<OOC> Aryia says, "Flying Kick: The monk leaps through the air to strike a foe with a kick. Before the attack, the monk can move a distance equal to his fast movement bonus. This movement is made as part of the monk's flurry of blows attack and does not require an additional action. At the end of this movement, the monk must make an attack against an adjacent foe. This movement may be between attacks. This movement provokes an attack of opportunity as normal. The attack made after the movement must be a kick."
<OOC> Aryia says, "143 bludgeoning damage, magic, lawful, silver, cold iron. They are dazzled for 1 round"
<OOC> Aryia notes they are up on the dias at 11,18 to get out of the leeches
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "They're there too. Also a few other things happen.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Will DC20 Aryia or fall asleep for 1 minute"
<OOC> Aryia immune to magic sleep effects to due elf
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "She's staggered, and the Symbol of Pain goes off when you touch the ground"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Everyone Fort Save DC 22, fail and its -4 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "These effects last for 1 hour after the creature moves farther than 60 feet from the symbol."
<OOC> Aryia reminders for +1 from prayer
GAME: Braelnoir rolls fort+1: (8)+16+1: 25 
GAME: Aryia rolls fortitude+1: (12)+18+1: 31
GAME: Selia rolls fort+1: (7)+8+1: 16 (vs DC22 - fail, -4 penaltie per above)
GAME: Seyardu rolls fortitude +1 +3: (10)+14+1+3: 28

Things were biting and draining the pugilist from underneath the water. She keeps moving forward, mantling the dais. Aryia advances.

Water sloughs off of her invisible form, feet landing on a ward that flares to life. Sending shocks of pain along her nerves. It is ignored. The balance is set. Aryia advances.

Magic blasts at her, attempting to rock her to dreams. Mul'neissa heritage has its boons. Aryia advances.

She is upon the Witch Queen. The pugilist leaps out of the water, both feet cocked back as heels slam down with an explosive moonlit flash, spraying water everywhere. Fists fly rapidly like a drill against stone. Advancing. Pressing. Finishing this as fast as possible.

<OOC> Aryia says, "If you are grappled, you can attempt to break the grapple as a standard action by making a combat maneuver check (DC equal to your opponent's CMD; this does not provoke an attack of opportunity) or Escape Artist check (with a DC equal to your opponent's CMD)."
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "alright, i'll try that next round. breath weapon, focused on 10,17, dc 22"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 8d6: (33): 33
GAME: Aryia rolls reflex+2: (14)+20+2: 36 (vs DC22 - no damage)
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "rage"
GAME: Braelnoir RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 26 temporary HP
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+12: (10)+12: 22
GAME: Braelnoir rolls cmb+4: (2)+17+4: 23 (vs CMD 31 - Fail)
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "No worries. You can rage in the tentacles, you're still trapped

Braelnoir is suddenly finding herself all alone as the Divine hemmorhage streaks toward the unseen luminance that she can only assume is, "Ary-urk!"

Her followup advisory is somewhat drawn askew as she is suddenly ensnared in the dispassionate throes of eldritch sorceries, and her eyes shimmer for a moment, and she decides to trust in the mute's supernatural deftness, then barks, "Cover!" in the shared jargon of <Merctalk>.

She turns wrathful eyes toward the caster whose currently stymying the beleaguered group's efforts, and her lips part, head lolling skyward...

There is an unnatural, gaspy note as a sparkling, crystalline white skein begins to congeal from the outside in, to ecompass lips, teeth, tongue...

Her head snaps back to proper angle as a palapale gale erupts from the mercenary's mouth, the splintering rime ice flaking from her distended maw. Vapor in the moist air turns equal parts fog and snow, and a thin veneer of ice coalesces in the surface of the water.

Then, she draws in a new breath and unleashes a draconian roar, even as muscles ripple, her mammalian hide splits and tears in places to hang like tattered rags from the subtly pebbled, mirrorlike skin revealed beneath. Her teeth, too many, too sharp are exposed in her hateful sneer, whilst her new sprung claws set the haft of her scythe to an ominous creak.

<OOC> Selia says, "Try to escape, get out of the best able"
GAME: Selia rolls escape artist-4+1+3: (5)+21+-4+1+3: 26 (vs CMD 31 - fail)

Ow. Ow ow ow, freaking OW! First some perverts wet dream comes to life, and then magic pain gets into the mix. Which might be part of the wet dream, but let's not get into that. Either way, Selia's having a bad day.

The little lutch wiggles and squirms in the tentacle mass, slipping out of one grip only to be wrapped up by another, making no real headway in freeing herself.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, colour attempts to break free then move and something else if the break free works"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+24: (9)+24: 33 (vs CMD 31 - Success)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "that probably provokes an AOO"
<OOC> Aryia says, "im not taking it, since brae said bludgeoning wont do anything"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, it also quickened casts charm, DC20 will save please Seyardu"
GAME: Seyardu rolls will +1 +3: (10)+15+1+3: 29 (vs DC 20 - Success)

The Bleeding Sky ripples, as if amused, and slips free of the black tentacles, moving closer closer on the altar dias.

It's so pretty, bubbling away, the pulsing shades all the way into the ultraviolet and beyond. Hypnotic. The silverscale can feel a dreamlike state attempting to overcome her, but it slips away.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "channel healing since I can't do anything else"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "can you do that while grappled?"
<OOC> Aryia says, "its not a spell, just a class ability like the breath attack"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Okay. sorry. roll your DC13 Fort save please, then the channel"
GAME: Seyardu rolls fortitude +1 +3: (3)+14+1+3: 21 (vs DC13 - Success)
GAME: Seyardu rolls 7d6: (31): 31
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for -31 points. 92 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Aryia for -31 points. 150 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Jinks for -31 points. 88 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Braelnoir for -31 points. 144 AND 26 TEMP HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Selia for -31 points. 54 HP remaining.

Seyardu finds herself beset by wasps and stuck in place by giant tentacles, and that's before acccounting for being struck by lightning twice. It was all the silver makari could do to pull free her holy symbol, which emanates another wave of healing energy towards the group.

"Yes, I am a healer, and yours is a disease on the land to be cured." The cleric snarls.

GAME: Jinks spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.

Thrashing in the tentacles, the many images of the sparkling kobold Jinks continues to sing.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, well there's the Wasp swarm on Seyardu"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (9): 9
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for 9 points. 83 HP remaining.
GAME: Seyardu rolls fortitude +1 +3: (5)+14+1+3: 23 (vs DC13 - Success)

Wasps are stingy, and all over the silverscale.

<OOC> Aryia WQ conditions: Stagger 3 rounds, dazzled 1 round.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "so staggered, can take a move or standard, as well as free, swift and immediate actions."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay she's going to 5' to 9.18"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "and I can't think of a useful swift thing to do"

"Ah. Asssisst Quo." The Witch-Queen staggers away from Aryia. <draconic>

<OOC> Jinks says, "I've got 27 more rounds of bardic performance, Cryo. Thank you very much for running."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "black tents on everyone"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+26: (20)+26: 46
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Brae, Sey, Selia, Jinks"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (5)+4: 9
GAME: You damaged Braelnoir for 8 points. 144 AND 18 TEMP HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for 7 points. 76 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Selia for 10 points. 44 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Jinks for 9 points. 79 HP remaining.

The tentacles continue to write and squeeze, twisting those within their grasp.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Quo 5' N, Quickened Glitterdust on Aryia, and Clenched Fist"
GAME: Aryia rolls will+1: (14)+17+1: 32 (vs DC22 - Not Blinded)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "changed mind, he moves to 9,19, Aryia you get an AOO"
GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 6 remaining. Aryia attempts to trip
GAME: Aryia rolls trip+6: aliased to : (19)+21+2+6: 48
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d7: (1): 1, "roll 1d7. 1 is Quo"
<OOC> Aryia ... whispers... "thank you dice."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Well you trip him"
<OOC> Aryia says, "viscious stomp"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I'm on the verge of "You win because Monk.""
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (8)+21+2+6: 37
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d7: (4): 4
<OOC> Aryia says, "if they fly i cant get them"
<OOC> Aryia says, "if they run i cant keep up"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "well he's tripped so he doesn't move. Does any of that cost Ki on your part?"
<OOC> Aryia says, "no, that's a feat"
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "He's casting. that provokes.
GAME: Aryia uses an AoO! 5 remaining.
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (6)+21+2+6: 35
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d6: (2): 2
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "gets an image."
<OOC> Aryia says, "two images destroyed"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, he gets his spell off. Clenching Fist. Which grabs the Witch Queen and moves her 60' away"

The black kobold makes a move. If he could fly, the mul'niessa might be unable to get him; if he could run headlong with abandon, she might not be able to keep up. If only she wasn't hasted, if only he still was, if only the temple wasn't so small. He can exploit neither of the monk's 'vulnerabilies' and instead moves tactically. He is immediately triped by Aryia. He rolls, and her vicious stomp finds one of his illusions. He casts, another illusion gone. A shimmering clenched fist forms around the Witch Queen, pushing her away from him and along the wall.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "He has Quick MM, so he shoots the healer with it."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 5d4+5: (13)+5: 18
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for 18 points. 58 HP remaining.

Sprawled on the dias, his little claw fingers are a blur and he shoots Seyardu with uneering magic missiles.

As the mul'niessa turns towards him, the singning kobold in the tentacles shouts out. "That's the one we're after! That's Qu'iolveylraed! That's his technique. He's enthralled, charmed, something. He's a Mul'niessa like you, he's obviously not himself. He's the dude we're supposed to be saving."

"Don't kill him!"

Wizards are notoriously splatty when confronted by monks, demonic or otherwise.

<OOC> Aryia shifts ire to Quo, assails
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "You're still in the leeches I should do leech damage"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Strength for 2 points. 4 total damage.
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Constitution for 2 points. 3 total damage.
<OOC> Aryia will flurry him nonlethally
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (1)+21+2+6: 30 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (8)+21+2+6: 37
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (17)+21+2+6: 46
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (15)+21+2+6: 44
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6-5: aliased to weapon0+2+6-5: (18)+21+2+6+-5: 42
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6-10: aliased to weapon0+2+6-10: (14)+21+2+6+-10: 33
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d5: (4): 4
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d4: (4): 4
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d2: (2): 2
<OOC> Aryia says, "illusions destroyed"
<OOC> Aryia says, "ki for another strike"
GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL.
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (1)+21+2+6: 30 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (14)+1+2+4: 21
<OOC> Aryia says, "21 damage, dazzled"
<OOC> Aryia will stay here and gesture to him while punching
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Diplomacy roll while you're at it Aryia"
<OOC> Aryia says, "with or without the -2 from it being to another mul"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "without. Basically I'm looking or a Nat20 anyhow because o all the spells"
GAME: Aryia rolls diplomacy+1+2: (14)+-4+1+2: 13

Aryia bristles as her target is flung away, her back handing Quo as he tries to slip by her, knocking him to the ground. Making a snap judgement, she shifts her attention from the Queen to him, Aryia mounting the illusions and bearing down with her fists.

"Quo!" Figment vanishes. "You dense fuck!" Poof, paff, pow. "Snap out this!" Miss miss, CRUNCH. Flesh! "Your friends need you!" <Handspeech/Tongues>

The motions are lost on all save for the one that can actually see her.

GAME: Braelnoir rolls cmb+4: (18)+17+4: 39 (vs CMD 31 - Success)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "move with haste speed, then 1/2 because diff terrain water, 5,13"

The incidentals of the situation are mostly lost in the swirl of rage turning her veins to ice, but Brae doesn't doesn't lose targets in that fog.

THe Queen, the primary objective, an assult against the freedoms of others, a bar to the Halls for sure, and probably a mouser to boot, is tippy top on the merc's kill list. It takes her fury to reacquire as the would be monarch is banf'ed away from Aryia, and the tattered silverscale writhes, snarls and strains nearly to her body's breaking point to free herself from the dark tendrils constraining her wrath. She lands with a heavy >sploosh!< into the water and starts to stomp ominously toward the prime mover, her breath a growling bellows, and her eyes golden discs, ashimmer with the cold promise of death.

<OOC> Selia says, "try and escape..."
GAME: Selia rolls escape artist+1+3-4: (13)+21+1+3+-4: 34

Selia wiggles, squirms, twists, and writhes, getting grabbed again and again, worse than free mead night at the dance hall. But progress is made, and at last the lutch slips free, rumpled, sticky, and more than a little annoyed. Good thing she's already here to kill someone.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "the colour is going to try Aryia's technique of punching to change people's minds."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Attack, then a quickend charm person DC18 Will"
GAME: Aryia rolls will+1+4: (11)+17+1+4: 33 (vs DC18 - Success)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (11)+19: 30
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "is your AC 30 currently Aryia, per +tscan, or higher?"
<OOC> Aryia says, "AC36, barkskin, haste"

The sky bleeds on Aryia with mesmerizing scintilation, which neither injures nor influences her.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "try to get out of the grapple, then move to 12,11"
GAME: Seyardu rolls cmb +2: (13)+11+2: 26 (vs CMD31)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "if you want to take 7 hp damage you can tear yourself out, that would get you to 31"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "I'll take it"
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for 7 points. 51 HP remaining.

Seyardu is stuck in place by the tentacles for some time with the others, even after the rest of them wrest free of the bindings. This continues for some time, until she grabs one of the tentacles and shoves it off, taking the scales and skin it was stuck to with it. The cleric staggers free of the morass, to a point far enough away she can collect herself.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Jinks will swim out following you."

With the black tentacles finding spots on the singing kobold that only gnomes are aware of, Jinks struggles and dives into the path cleared by Seyardu, escaping the writhing field and popping out behind the sith'makar.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "WQ is still staggered, 2 rounds, so she does her standard and casts Cure CW"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 4d8+15: (11)+15: 26
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "she also uses her Rod to Quick cast Twilight Knife, which hangs around her"

Enveloped in a magical hand of force which faintly resembles a giant kobold claw, the Witch-Queen prays to her foul god, begging for healing. It is delivered. She flicks her Rod, and a floating knife, a piece of twilight hovers in the air nearby.

"Friendsss? There are no friendss, only Thul." The black kobold hisses back, waving his tiny claws, "and my Queen. My beloved Queen." <draconic>

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "and... he does... things, let me think. He is Dazzled (-1 per, =1 att) until the end of his turn"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay. He'll defensive cast, Rod of Quick MM then Mage's sword, remain prone,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Standing will just give you an AOO, so he doesn't. He doesn't want to be punched."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "so defensive cast is DC29 for Mage's sword"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+16+6+4: (4)+16+6+4: 30 (vs DC29 - Success)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "sword gets an attack"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+25: (9)+25: 34 (Miss)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "MM is on Seyardu"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 5d4+5: (10)+5: 15
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for 15 points. 36 HP remaining.

Quo is a highly experienced adventurer. He's familiar with the abilities of monks. He's also seen how easily Aryia stunned his Queen, and the reports of her battle against both Vouivres emphasized that as well. She punches out raptors, she punches out dragons.

Bolts of enery fly towards Seyardu, striking her. Take the healer down, then there will be a chance against the monk.

He cowers, defensively casting. A shimmering sword appears, swiping at Aryia, flying over her head, missing completely.

<pre><OOC> Aryia says, "leech and such reminder"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (10): 10, "dr 2/-"
GAME: You damaged Aryia for 8 points. 127 HP remaining.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (3): 3
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Strength for 3 points. 7 total damage.
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Constitution for 1 points. 4 total damage.
GAME: Aryia rolls fortitude+1: (4)+17+1: 22 (vs DC13 - Success)
<OOC> Aryia will resume punching quo nonlethally until he goes to sleep
<OOC> Aryia says, "first strike will be stunning fist set to stun,"
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (11)+21+2+6: 40
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18 (vs DC 22 - Stunned)
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (2)+21+2+6: 31
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (4)+21+2+6: 33
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (1)+21+2+6: 30 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6-5: aliased to weapon0+2+6-5: (18)+21+2+6+-5: 42
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6-10: aliased to weapon0+2+6-10: (9)+21+2+6+-10: 28
<OOC> Aryia says, "last attack will provoke from colours and him as she flying kicks to 9,17"
<OOC> Aryia says, "AC 40 from mobility for that provoke"
<OOC> Aryia says, "that's the turn! i do provoke from the colours when i move to 9,17"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (20)+19: 39 (THREAT)
<OOC> Aryia says, "thank god for mobility"
<OOC> Aryia says, "ac 40"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Nat 20"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (4)+19: 23 (Not Confirmed)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 6d6+7: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Wisdom for 1 points. 1 total damage.
<OOC> Aryia says, "dr 2/- if its physical"
GAME: You damaged Aryia for 19 points. 93 HP remaining.
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (14)+0+2+4: 20
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (14)+0+2+4: 20
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (11)+0+2+4: 17
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (12)+0+2+4: 18
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (13)+0+2+4: 19

Aryia snarls, shaking her head as she gestures once more. "No, you dense fucker! Fuck the Queen. Your friends! Ace? The rest of your party?"

Her foot is stomps down again, again, and again. One glances across his chin, dazing him as she steps over and off the dias, clearing up spot. <Handspeech/Tongues>

Stepping right into a rent in reality, which bleeds all over her.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Brae you can get within range and make an attack, move to 3, 15"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "brae has a lot of angry to share with the queen. power attaack, imp vital strike furious focus"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+4: (14)+23+4: 41
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+13+4d4+12: (8)+13+(11)+12: 44, "+3 slashing"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "oh, brae, Will DC20 please"

Braelnoir stalks ominously toward the queen, gleaming limbs rippling with muscle straining against muscle as she closes, bringing the reaper's weapon back behind her trailing leg before letting rip with a hateful bellow of, "YOU'RE DEAD!" that doesn't sound like it should be coming from the throat that utters it. <draconic>

The scythe blade hisses ringingly into the kobold's flesh, meeting more resistance than she'd have normally expected, but, that just means she can HIT her AGAIN!

"Get him out of the Globe of Invulnerability!" Jinks-bold hisses, "You need spells to break the enchantment. I have them. Seyardu has them. They'll work once he's outside."

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Selia? what would you like to do?"
<OOC> Selia says, "Okay, move into the globe, then cast out the far side, Shadow Call, shadow shark at 6:18 or so"
<OOC> Selia says, "there is fine. I don't think anything is coded to use the ability, shark is 20 percent real"

Selia catches her breath a little and moves into the Globe, breaking the line of effect. The ShadowDancer murmurs, calling on the dark.

The dark water ripples. Dah-dun. Something moves beneath. Dah-dun. A single fin cuts thru the surface. Dun-dun-dun-dun! Black as pitch, a massive shark breaks the surface, swimming swiftly towards the Witch Queen. How'd a large shark appear in shallow water? Magic, of course.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "colour moves to there and strikes Aryia"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (13)+19: 32
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "it tries the quick charm on Seyardu again"
GAME: Seyardu rolls will +1 +3: (3)+15+1+3: 22 (vs DC18 - Success)

The aether continues to bleed on Aryia, to no effect. It's alluring colours also have no effect on the colour-blind sith'makar.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "okay, I'm going to take a moment to heal myself, then I'm moving to help Brae"
GAME: Seyardu casts Heal. Caster Level: 14 DC: 22
GAME: You damaged Seyardu for -140 points. 144 HP remaining.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Aryia.........|   93     | 135  |
 | Braelnoir.....|  144 +18 | 144  |
 | Jinks.........|   79     |  88  |
 | Selia.........|   44     |  54  |
 | Seyardu.......|  144     | 144  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seyardu stopped and looked around, only to be caught by a pang of pain in their side where one of the lightning bolts had impacted.

"Apologies, allow me some modicum of selfishness." she states before holding one hand to their side, which causes the blackened area to flake away, and the patches of her arms and legs squeezed by the tentacles to cease their bleeding. With that sorted, she chargeds forward, getting close enough she could glare at the Witch Queen.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I aske Williwaw to roll attacks for Jinks on the Colour, but she may be AFK"
<OOC> Williwaw says, "What are the current bonuses?"
<OOC> Aryia says, "+6 to hit, hasted, +4 damage"
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15+6+3-2-4: (1)+15+6+3+-2+-4: 19 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15+6+3-2-4: (1)+15+6+3+-2+-4: 19 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15+6+3-2-4: (7)+15+6+3+-2+-4: 25
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15+6+3-2-4-5: (19)+15+6+3+-2+-4+-5: 32
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+15+6+3-2-4-10: (18)+15+6+3+-2+-4+-10: 26
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "wow the dice know who they're rolling for"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "the 32 hits"
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d4+2+3+8+4: (2)+2+3+8+4: 19

Bow in hand, turned sideways because of the water depth, Jinks takes aim and rapid fires into the strange, scintiliating wound. The arrows are ineffective.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay WQ Retribution Hexes Braelnoir and quicken fumbletongues Seyardu"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls will+3: (16)+9+3: 28 (vs DC21 - Success)
GAME: Seyardu rolls will +1 +3: (4)+15+1+3: 23 (vs DC15 - Success)

"You sspeak your lasst intelligible wordss" The Witch-Queen glares bac at Seyardu, flipping her rod in her direction.

It's silver-haired Merc however, who seems to suffer her most malevolent glare. Piercing eyes bore into her, cursing her soul.

Failing to make it stick however. "Thul why have you abandonned me? Why don't my spells work? Why won't they die? Die!" <draconic>

<OOC> Aryia says, "Quo status: stunned until start of aryia's turn"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, well thta makes his turn easy, the sword keeps attacking you and he does nothing else"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+25: (9)+25: 34

The mage's sword misses.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "so, you're still in leeches"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (12): 12
GAME: You damaged Aryia for 10 points. 68 HP remaining. (DR2/-)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (3): 3
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Strength for 1 points. 8 total damage.
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Constitution for 3 points. 7 total damage.
<OOC> Aryia will do the same thing, keep pummling quo nonlethally, stun at the first one, will stop beating him up once he's out so i dont kill him if that happens
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (11)+21+2+6: 40
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (17)+21+2+6: 46
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (18)+21+2+6: 47
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6: aliased to weapon0+2+6: (5)+21+2+6: 34
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6-5: aliased to weapon0+2+6-5: (4)+21+2+6+-5: 28
GAME: Aryia rolls punch+6-10: aliased to weapon0+2+6-10: (3)+21+2+6+-10: 22
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (19)+15: 34 (vs D21 - Success)
GAME: Aryia spends TWO uses of STUNNING FIST.
<OOC> Aryia says, "realizes I did one too many, so I'll do a swift action ki to make up for it"
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (5)+-1+2+4: 10
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (8)+-1+2+4: 13
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (10)+-1+2+4: 15
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (7)+-1+2+4: 12
GAME: Aryia rolls crunch+4: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+4: (7)+-1+2+4: 12
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, hits, he seems to be enduring it"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "still conscious, not convinced to switch sides. Make the pose"

Aryia is wavering, grey skin going pale as the water is wafting away with blood. The leeches draining her. Her strikes are growing weaker. But still... she keeps. Going. "Sit out! For fuck's sake! It's over!" she gestures in a break, her mind going a bit fuzzy from the Colour hitting her. The mute shakes her head, continuing the pummel and beat down. <Handspeech/Tongues>

<OOC> Braelnoir says, "power attack, furious focus on the first swing, keep swinging"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+4: (13)+23+4: 40
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+4-4: (10)+23+4+-4: 33
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1-5: (7)+23+-5: 25
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1-10: (11)+23+-10: 24
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+13+12: (5)+13+12: 30
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+13+12: (8)+13+12: 33
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+13+12: (4)+13+12: 29
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+13+12: (5)+13+12: 30
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay despite her Stoneskin and Ablative barrier, you beat her all the way down past her negative limite, so pose killing her."
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "even after my updaed total?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Still conscious after the first 2, unconcious on 3, splattered by 4, yes."

"Nnnnoooo!" the crazed bloodrager sneers, her pirahna teeth glistening between the misty puffs of her breath, her scythe reindexing, lead foot bracing against the momentum of her overswing. It come back, hewing with another hideously muffled clang, trailing the wall with blood.

"I'll..." the scythe whistles into a figure eight as muscle memory controlls the stroke to bring itaround from another diagonal.

"Kill-" another stroke, this orbiting around the Korite's back sheers up the dark queen's centerline as she begins to slump to the water....

"YOUUUUU!" Another reorientation, of blackened streel bathed in the fresh blood that bates the silver skeined human, this bringing the sinister blade severing the slender neck to arc the spiteful head over her killer to splash into the water behind her trailing foot.

In the aftermath, huffing, Brae trails wisps of chill fog as her attention comes about to see what targets yet linger... <draconic>

<OOC> Selia says, "What all fallout from the Queen's demise? Do we still need to break mind control or whatever?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "You won't know until it's Quo's turn again, so possibly"
<OOC> Selia says, "Okay, shark heads for blood in the water, mostly distraction anyway,"
<OOC> Selia says, "head to Quo and try to talk some sence into him"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "pose a happy and hungry shadow shark trying to eat Witch-Queen remains. :)"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "and mostly shadow chomping bits that fall through its mouth"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "oh, and you're in the leeches"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (5): 5
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (3): 3
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: You damaged Selia for 5 points. 39 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Selia's Strength for 3 points. 3 total damage.
GAME: You damaged Selia's Constitution for 1 points. 1 total damage.
GAME: Selia rolls fort: (3)+8: 11 (vs DC13 - Fail)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4: (1): 1
GAME: You damaged Selia's Dexterity for 1 points. 1 total damage.
<OOC> Selia says, "point of order, Grab Quo and drag out of the Globes as I'd forgotten Jinks suggested."
<OOC> Selia says, "Chat as we go... and maybe shreik a little"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you're out of the leeches, so they won't be hurting you next round"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you pul Quo free in a way that avoids getting AOO'd Selia, make the pose"

Blood in the water. Shark in the water. The results are pretty predictable. Yes, it's a shadow shark, but it's a real shadow shark.

The bites are real, the damage is real, the delight is real. Just not... totally real.

Wipeing her hands, Selia calming moves over and grabs Quo's arm, dragging him towards the door. "Whelp, she's dead. And either you join her, snap out of it, or PRETEND to snap out of it and plot your revenge. Either way, let's go, I'm rilly tired of this whole mess." The halfer frowns. "Like, rilly tired... sleepy almost... wot-" The dancer looks down at the leaches in the water, happy with HER blood.

It's a high pitched shreik.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "colour moves and hits at Aryia"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (18)+19: 37
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 6d6+7: (23)+7: 30
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Wisdom for 1 points. 2 total damage.
GAME: You damaged Aryia for 28 points. 40 HP remaining, "dr 2/-!"

As the temple walls are painted with the Witch-Queen's blood, the strange colours grow more vibrant. There's an incredible slash with the kobold's dying scream, and Aryia feels her flesh open up, as if a scythe sliced through her.

And the flickering hues make it seem all right, they seem in her mind, making her thoughts sparkle darkly.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "I think I'll move to 8,17, use my last heal spell on Aryia,"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "that should clear the ability damage if it isn't a drain"
<OOC> Aryia says, "Sey, roll a caster level check to overcome spell resistance 25."
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+14: (5)+14: 19 (vs SR 25 - Fail)
<OOC> Seyardu says, "spending a reroll on that"
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+14: (13)+14: 27 (vs SR 25 - Success)
GAME: You damaged Aryia for -140 points. 120 HP remaining.
GAME: Seyardu casts Heal. Caster Level: 14 DC: 22

With the witch queen dispatched, and the elf turned kobold seemingly out of the equation, all that left was the strange beast and an increasingly injured Aryia.

"It is just me, Aryia. I am going to mend your wounds with magic." She warns, before putting one hand on the mul'niessa's back, which nigh instantly closes up the numerous wounds from the beast and leeches, sapping away whatever was causing their fatiguing effects.

The kobold, the other one, the singing, embellished and well endowed with jewels and fancy frippancy, brings his song to several breaking crescendos, aimed at the one in Selia's gasp.

"if I leave here tomorrow
"Would you still remember me
"For I must be traveling on now
"'Cause there's too many places I've got to see
"'Cause I'm as free as a bird now
"And this bird you cannot change
"Oh, oh, oh, oh

Followed by a clap.

In Selia's hands, Quo wriggles, shaking his head, "Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! What? I'm a kobold?"

"Right... I agreed to be a kobold..." His head turns, he stares at the bleeding air. "Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh no! That... no, we can't let that esssscape!"

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "WQ is dead and her swarm is... over there."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Quo MM and RoQ MM the Colour"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 10d4+10: (20)+10: 30
<OOC> Aryia says, "he does have the sword still up, if he wants it o change targets"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "he does and it does"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+25: (5)+25: 30 (Miss)

"It was like a dream come true." The black-scaled kobold wizard stands, water up to his chest, shaking his head, "I felt fulfilled, making items for her."

With a gesture his sword turns on the colour, with another a spray of magic missiles shoot from his hand, and another flick of his rod sends an equal number.

All at the blood from beyond.

The blade bounces ineffectually, but the missles strike, bursting the frothy bubbles of purple blood.

<OOC> Aryia says, "im going to stand action bull rush seyardu back westward as far as i can"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Sey you're in the leeches so they'll get you on your turn"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (5): 5
GAME: You damaged Aryia for 3 points. 162 HP remaining. (DR2/-)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Strength for 2 points. 2 total damage.
GAME: You damaged Aryia's Constitution for 1 points. 1 total damage
GAME: Aryia rolls cmb+6: (15)+21+6: 42 (vs CMD 0)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "then 1/2 because water, so 4 squares movement, I'll move you"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "The colour gets an AOO because you moved out of its' threatened square
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (2)+19: 21 (miss)
<OOC> Aryia nod! "does that and whistles REALLY LOUDLY for everyone" thats the turn!

Aryia wavers as she's just about to whirl back into Quo, but Selia manages to drag him away! He's coming to his senses! And Braelnoir managed to commit regicide! She's bolstered, but wavering, dark thoughts clouding her resolve from this being.. But then. Something disrupts the balance.

Tips it in her favor. There's a loud gasp as she's topped back up, a shudder wracking her as pain goes in a flash.

She looks about, eyes widening as this thing was still here! Seyardu was. Shit! Can't talk! Wihtout warning, strong arms grip the sith-makari cleric as she's driven backwards into the waters, the blood mingled spray splashing everywhere was a invisible glow tackles her to the back wall.

Two, piercing high notes pervade the air. Low-high.

<OOC> Braelnoir says, "ok, move to 9, 17, PA FF and Imp vital strike"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+4: (15)+23+4: 42
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+13+4d4+12+3: (4)+13+(5)+12+3+1: 42

Stil dripping from her singular fit of picque, Brae starts the hasty slog toward the far flung form, trailing mist from her breath like a steam engine. Her scythe, claimed in battle, borne in campaign after campaign even before it's eldritch christening uto War itself, is gripped tightly in a grip tight enough to tremble as it comes back and high.

Roaring anew, Brae rushes into the gap her friends withdrew from, to cover their retreat so much as lay waste to a new target, and so it is, the weapon arcs through the coloful coagulation, though not enough to destroy it.

<OOC> Selia says, "Hold action and hang out by Quo, cast if the Color starts our direction"

Selia eyes Quo for a moment, then nods. "Glad yer feelin yerself again (or faking it good). Plan B was ta stab ya. Ya gots any advice on 'ow ta stop dat... Thing?" she asks, watching it warily.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "it smacks Brae and tries charming Quo"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL), "Quo's save", vs DC18
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (15)+19: 34, (vs AC 27 - hits) "attack on Brae"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 6d6+7: (24)+7: 31
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: You damaged Braelnoir's Wisdom for 1 points. 1 total damage.
GAME: You damaged Braelnoir for 31 points. 131 HP remaining.

"Adamantine, you need Adamantine. It hasss no spell resistance," Quo answers Selia, preparing to cast again, "It regenerates, it's ... it'ss... it'sss..." His tail wriggles widely, splashing all over the little lucht, "IT'SSS INSSSIDE MY HEAD!"

He stares, cooing at the colours, nodding slowly in the direction of the bubbling ichor, "Yesss... they are not friendsss."

There's another slash cutting across Braelnoir's back, shearing some hair, the glowing blood trickling in a circle around her, mixing with her own.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "fly up, with angelic aspect, and over to 12,17, smack the wizard,"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "swap to reach with short haft after to threaten the creature, and give flanking"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I'm not sure you can get to 12,17 without going through its threatened space"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "30 foot flying increased to 60 with haste"
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "Okay, that looks like it will work then.
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+6+10+1+1+2-3: (17)+6+10+1+1+2+-3: 34
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d8+1d6+5+12+1: (8)+(2)+5+12+1: 28
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "Okay, he's staggered.

Seyardu gestures to her own weapon as she takes to the air with the leathery wings conjured by her magics, in a moment where she is very thankful for the wide open and welcoming atmosphere of an althean temple giving her enough room with which to do so. A few flaps propel them over the beast and she drops like a stone, impaling the small kobold with the sharpened end of the billbook.

Or rather, that's what it felt like as she pulls the weapon out of the ground in front of her. "I have an adamantine weapon, if you need it!" She shouts over to Braelnoir while adjusting her grip.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, Brae is in the leeches"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (6): 6
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (3): 3
GAME: You damaged Braelnoir for 6 points. 125 HP remaining.
GAME: You damaged Braelnoir's Strength for 1 points. 1 total damage.
GAME: You damaged Braelnoir's Constitution for 3 points. 3 total damage.

Flickering pulses of purple light in the water reveal leaches as the attach to Braelnoir's legs, wriggling in the cracks of her armour. A numbness spreads up her legs.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Quo believes the Colour, since Seyardu smacked him. He staggered and is going to drink a potion,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "AOO for Selia and... sword keeps on the Colour because he doesn't have a move to change it"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "AOO for Sey to, if you want to take it"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "I can't make an aoo since I swapped back to reach"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+25: (7)+25: 32
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 4d6+3: (12)+3: 15
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 3d8+6: (17)+6: 23
GAME: Selia rolls weapon7-4: (18)+15+-4+6: 35, "crack with flaf of blade... or try"
GAME: Selia rolls damage7: aliased to 1d4+0+4: (1)+0: 4

"Ow! Not friendss." Quo hisses, after the silverscale smacks him. His eyes glitter, flashing the same purple light as the blood. He pulls a potion from his belt.

An action that earns him a smack from Selia, one that makes him reel but not fall. A gesture that seems to give weight to the strange Colour's assertion.

He swallows, wipes his lips and throws the bottle away. <draconic>

His sword, continues to slash away at the Colour, sending it mixed messages, especially as it splatters more blood across the ceiling.

<OOC> Aryia says, "get to 9,18 and aid another bralnoir on her ac"
GAME: Aryia rolls punch: aliased to weapon0+2: (2)+21+2: 25 (vs DC10, success, +2 ac)

Aryia grimaces as things are stalemating, her remembering the warning. Don't punch it. Won't work. Instead, she sloshes forward, spraying water everywhere as she puts a hand on Braelnoir, getting ready to shove or pull the raging silver-scaled sister out of harm's way.

<OOC> Braelnoir says, "full attack, power attack furious focus"
<OOC> Aryia says, "+6 att, +4 damage!"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+6: (14)+23+6: 43
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+6-4: (5)+23+6+-4: 30
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+6-4-5: (9)+23+6+-4+-5: 29
GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon1+6-4-10: (10)+23+6+-4+-10: 25
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "did you add the +2 flanking?"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "i did not"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "then the 30 hits too"
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+12+13+4: (7)+12+13+4: 36
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 2d4+12+13+4: (6)+12+13+4: 35

Braelnoir isn't quite in her happy place, though the really creepy sneer pulling her lips back from those interlocked pinions could convince someone otherwise. Blood still pumping furiously in her veins, she briefly turns slit golden eyes toward Seyardu, giving half a shake of her head, before she lays into the incongruous invertebrate, the blade sliding through the exotic humors like a starchy cheesecake. Once, twice...

She half twists at the sudden touch to her back, then, seeming to still recognize Aryia through her bloodlust, whirls back and tries, futeily to put two more slashes through the gelatinous being, but to no avail.

<OOC> Selia says, "move to 12:19 to flank, but hold action. If Quo starts to cast, stab him"

Selia blinks at Quo's sudden... possession? Hesitating before cracking him one with her hilt. "Stopit!" As that doesn't seem to snap him out of it, the lutch sighs, flipping the blade around. "Plan B is still on da table, warning ya."

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, the colour smacks brae then moves,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "there will be an AOO for Sey and Sel at some point during that."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (7)+19: 26 (vs AC 29 - Miss)
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+6+10+1+1+2-3: (15)+6+10+1+1+2+-3: 32 (AOO)
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d8+5+12+1+2: (6)+5+12+1+2: 26
GAME: Selia rolls weapon7+1+3: (7)+15+1+3: 26 (AOO)
GAME: Selia rolls damage7+1d6+1+3: aliased to 1d4+0+1d6+1+3: (4)+0+(6)+1+3: 14
<OOC> Selia says, "extra is cold"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, you freez some blood"

Like a stiletto across an eyelid, the bleeding colour slides against Braelnoir. Despite the chill, the exciting thrill, the merc is unscathed.

The beading, trickling Colour tilts towards the south, as if reality had shifted and gravity was pulling it that way. Though Seyardu's swipe, and Selia's desperate stab connect, the strange entity flows through their weapons, around them, past the webs, the entrance foyer. Vanishing from sight.

Selia swipes at the... thing... as it draws too close, blade leave motes of frost in the moist air.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "it's out of line of sight, so you're not sure where it went"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I think you get an AOO going past Quo doing that"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+8: (3)+8: 11 (Quo's AOO - Miss)

Seyardu swings wide at the beast, seeming to catch it for a moment as it seems to make it's escape. The cleric is in pursuit, chasing them down the hallway.

"You would do well to remember that I did not actually physically injure you." She does say to the kobold as she passes. "You just need time to return to your senses instead of stabbing my friends."

Down the way, she calls back up. "I can not tell where it went, but I am no tracker. Do we pursue it?"

The Jinks-bolds say, "If this doesn't break him out, you need to beat him down or cast some spells. I'm out of dispels and Break Enchantments." He shouts a dichordant noise.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (19)+15: 34

The kobold's eyes clear, just as he was focusing on his Mage's sword. "It's left? Oh no, It's left!"

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, I'm going to assume you move out of the leeches on your turn,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "but they do more HP and stat damage to Brae and Aryia."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "it's also escaped, and Quo has been deprogrammed, if not de-kobolded"

Selia hesitates, but declines to stab as the 'kobolds' eyes clear again. "Yeah, ran outside, meybe? Wot WAS dat thing? Yer 'ead clear nuf ta 'member?"

The buoyant blob has fled, and Brae, still a riding a wyrm's worth of 'kill something!', does give those around her a quick scan, well, except the other kobold. It takes her three strides for the spectacle of conversation to cut through the urge to fight, and, with a eye clenching shake of her head, Braelnoir exhales a weary sigh. Swallows, then starts to try and stomp the wiggly little bastards loose with a vehement, "What th'fuck! Getoffa me!" before she slogs her way out to less infested waters. A pant or two then, she looks to Seyardu and asks, "Sey? See where it got to, luv?"

Another then, "Everyone a'right?"

Aryia bares her teeth after helping Braelnoir out, a fist hovering at wanting to strike at it, but was warned to not hit it. It fucked with her head too many times, and she didn't want to be on the receiving end of that. A breath In.

She walks out of the leeches, kicking them off as her back hits the wall. The invisibility, finally, fades away. Revealing an exhausted mul'neissa, breaths coming in pants. "We can't... catch up... with that thing..." she gestures languidly from afar, her hands glowing to make it easy to see the signs.

Her gaze drifts over to the chum floating in the water as the shadow shark has its time with it. "... at least the bitch is dead. Congratulations on the regicide, everyone."As she stares, she realizes slowly that this entire situation is basically... done. It's over. The kobolds lost their fearsome leader. The tri-pronged assault happened and went off. Hopefully Sunken Hope went well.

The mute pugilist lets out a long, long, languid sigh, sliding down into the filthy waters. She makes bubbles. A thumbs up towards Braelnoir. More bubbles. <Handspeech/Tongues>

The kobold wizard shakes his head, as if to clear it. There's an ominous flicker of colour across his eyes but it fades before it takes root. He turns, snout to nose with the little Lucht, "Yes. I remember."

"There was a relic in this temple, before it fell to the dragon, before it was tainted by her presence. It may have been the reason Uskvutha sent the Koblds to undermine it in the first place. She left the Witch-Queen, to experiment, to make it grow."

A shocked expression forms on the little lizard's face, "How long have I been here? It was all a blur." His voice drops, "I think I loved her, or... she made me feel that I did."

"It was a drop of blood. A God's blood. From the beginning of the world or the first battles. One of those things that... you just don't."

He turns, gazing at the podium, out into the ruined pews with the rotting kobold bodies. He keeps shaking his head. "She didn't care for any of them. They were instruments for her power. She was a necromancer, through and through, turning anyone who displeased her and finding a way to feed them into that primordial blood spot."

His gaze moves to the far wall, streaked with blood cast from Braelnoir's slashes that slew the Witch-Queen. He exhales for so long it seems impossible he has any breath left in his body. "She's gone, she's really gone."

The Witch-Queen is Dead!

Yet...

Her legacy lives on: An open wound on the world. A cut, bleeding, letting in nightmares and leaving scars. An injury with an intelligence seeking to damage as much as it can.

Sunken Hope's name may have never been more apt.

Ghoulish cp line.png

==OOC & Combatty--

From afar, Williwaw hugs. I am very glad you ran this.

Map! https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mkutge530zn

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 5 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     29   WQ               1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     26   Quo              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     23   Aryia            7  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     23   Braelnoir        1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     22   Selia            7  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4    Seyardu          1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >> 3    Jinks            1   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================
 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 6 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     29   WQ               1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     26   Quo              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     23   Aryia            7  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     23   Braelnoir        1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     22   Selia            8  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     16   The Colour          
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4    Seyardu          1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >> 3    Jinks            1   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================
 ==================== Current Initiative Order - Round 13 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     29   Leeches          1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     26   Quo              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >> 23   Aryia            7   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     23   Braelnoir        1  Raging (6 rnds active)                       
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     22   Selia            8  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     16   The Colour       1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4    Seyardu          1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3    Jinks            1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   Name   |   Race   |   Class   | CHP | HP  | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Aryia     |SHADOW_ELF|Mnk        | 107 | 165 |30/24/29 | 47 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
|Braelnoir |HUMAN     |Brg/DDs/Ftr| 144 | 144 |29/26/20 | 32 | 16 | 8  | 7  |
|Jinks     |GNOME     |Bard       | 41  | 88  |25/21/15 | 25 | 8  | 15 | 11 |
|Selia     |HALFLING  |Rog/Shadowd| 54  | 54  |24/17/19 | 23 | 8  | 18 | 7  |
|Seyardu   |SITH-MAKAR|Clr        | 113 | 144 |23/23/14 | 23 | 14 | 4  | 15 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   Name   |   Race   |   Class   | CHP | HP  | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Aryia     |SHADOW_ELF|Mnk        | 119 | 165 |30/24/29 | 47 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
|Braelnoir |HUMAN     |Brg/DDs/Ftr| 144 | 144 |29/26/20 | 32 | 16 | 8  | 7  |
|Jinks     |GNOME     |Bard       | 65  | 88  |25/21/15 | 25 | 8  | 15 | 11 |
|Selia     |HALFLING  |Rog/Shadowd| 54  | 54  |24/17/19 | 23 | 8  | 18 | 7  |
|Seyardu   |SITH-MAKAR|Clr        | 67  | 144 |23/23/14 | 23 | 14 | 4  | 15 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   Name   |   Race   |   Class   | CHP | HP  | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Aryia     |SHADOW_ELF|Mnk        | 135 | 150 |30/24/29 | 45 | 17 | 20 | 17 |
|Braelnoir |HUMAN     |Brg/DDs/Ftr| 144 | 144 |27/24/18 | 32 | 16 | 8  | 9  |
|Selia     |HALFLING  |Rog/Shadowd| 44  | 54  |24/17/19 | 23 | 8  | 18 | 7  |
|Seyardu   |SITH-MAKAR|Clr        | 58  | 144 |23/23/14 | 23 | 14 | 4  | 15 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   Name   |   Race   |   Class   | CHP | HP  | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Aryia     |SHADOW_ELF|Mnk        | 162 | 165 |30/24/29 | 46 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
|Braelnoir |HUMAN     |Brg/DDs/Ftr| 144 | 144 |27/24/18 | 32 | 16 | 8  | 9  |
|Selia     |HALFLING  |Rog/Shadowd| 39  | 54  |24/17/19 | 22 | 8  | 18 | 7  |
|Seyardu   |SITH-MAKAR|Clr        | 144 | 144 |23/23/14 | 23 | 14 | 4  | 15 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pre-Game
<OOC> Williwaw says, "A quick reminder, too, folks. There's alot going on in this scene, so if everyone can work together to keep it moving that would be best. Try to have a general idea of what you want to do on your turn coming up (yes, situations may change it), and if you're unsure, discuss on the RP channel. There is absolutely nothing wrong with talking to each other as players to coordinate things. If you decide you're going to do something super straight forward, like attack, declare it and just roll your attack with your declaration. If Cryosanthia rules that for some reason you can't attack, the roll can just be ignored. (Obviously, hold off on casting spells by code until confirmation.)"
<OOC> Williwaw says, "And please, if you have something else going on try to keep this window as your primary focus out of respect to the other players involved."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Okay, ready. Thanks for coming. I'll remind, I think this is very challenging, so be careful. I'm still finalizing the set, and the NPCs are getting their actions first so there are a couple more delays there. Jinks just tried to teleport the group and it failed. If you'd like to write some short reactions to that to drop while I work on the NPCs, that's fine"

Fist of the North Monk
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I was working out if you looped around and killed him. Thanks for the correction"
<OOC> Aryia would have stopped the flurry if that was the case
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I've watched Fist of the North Star flurries, and that seems to be what you're doing, It's all happening in 6 seconds or, I'd be surprised. I guess you can stop but I'm not sure their body would know they were already dead while you were punching them."
<OOC> Aryia snicker

Post-Game
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "Cry, thank you for putting all this together for us, and Willi, thank you for helping! *hugs all*"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "thank you very much for running!"
<OOC> Aryia big cheer and hug all. "Thank you everyone, and good work! Thank your for running cryo, and thanks for the hand willi :)"
<OOC> Williwaw nods. I would like to thank you too, Cryo, for deciding to conclude this epic story.
<OOC> Aryia big nod!
<OOC> Selia agrees, has losst track of the various plot threads, but had fun chasing the one I was part of
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "thanks for the help Williwaw, so so much"
<OOC> Williwaw says, "This was all you, C."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "working on the endpose"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "the rules lookup by you and Aryia was immensely helpful"
<OOC> Aryia thumb up!
<OOC> Aryia claps for great endpose :)
<OOC> Braelnoir applaud, nice!
<OOC> Cryosanthia hugs, "Thanks everyone, for coming along. I wish I had finished this in May,though the extra time may have helped. Although, there was way too much extra time and the swift tri-attack strike seemed very drug out
<OOC> Braelnoir hugs
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "sometimes, scheduling followups can be rough"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "at least you can talk about it IC now and like I said, could have a meetup where you talk with Loci and the RBG kobolds and such."
<OOC> Aryia big hug! "That's totally okay. It's done! We did it! :)"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I hope the adventure across the levels worked, and the horror aspects and such"
<OOC> Aryia says, "it was very spooki! and most excellent cryo, thank you a bunch for the wonderful story"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "cool cool, I had fun with it."
<OOC> Braelnoir hugs, "Awesome work! Have a good night all, great rps tonight!"
<OOC> Aryia says, "goodnight everyone! sleep well!"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "It worked, and it was good! I certainly enjoyed the journey."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Cool cool, thanks!"
<OOC> Seyardu would love to follow up with a meetup or something